Extended warranty necessary?
 

Hope to receive the EX1R today via FedEx....didn't buy an extended warranty with this - should I? I can get one for about $145 for 3 years (do you know of a better deal?)...is it everyone's experience that extended w's are good, useful worth it? Or just overkill for their EX cameras?

I have read in the past that Consumer reports mention that extendeded warrantees are nothing but moneymakers for the reseller and manufacturer.
I think you would be better off properly insuring your camera.

I've got equipment insurance but I think that's if it drops and cracks, is stolen, etc. I doubt if it covers defects, etc that show up 2 years after purchase. Not sure insurance would cover what a warranty covers...other thoughts?

I had a problem a few years ago with my betacam, viewfinder circuitry, that could not be replaced or repaired.
Ins. covered this.

you automatically get a 1 year warranty with the purchase. so in essence you're for an additional 2 yea warranty. i agree with the others. put that money towards your insurance bills.

who do you guys use for insurance?

The only issue I've personally had with my EX1 is the silk screened lettering wearing off the panels, but I am otherwise persuaded this cam worldwide has has an abysmal track record for needed repairs, lens replacements, board replacements, and they are very expensive.

When I do this over, (have PMW350 on pre-order), I will probably buy extended warranty coverage due to lingering doubts I have about Sony Q.C., even though I otherwise practically NEVER purchase extended warranties. This equipment is expensive, and Sony denies too many claims, citing fault of the owner, my $0.02.

Kent, (or anyone else),

Where are you getting your extended warranties? I think B&H has 3 yrs for around $500, and I see Kent you mentioned a much lower price.... where?

Does anyone have any recommendation?

I bought my EX1 from an authorized Sony dealer and purchased the Sony Extended Warranty.....and I'm glad I did. I believe it was around $159 and added two years to my coverage. Since I've had pretty much every EX1 defect, I've considered it cheap insurance. Also, if you buy an aftermarket warranty or insurance, you will probably have to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket initially and have to file a claim to get reimbursed. With the Sony warranty, I just send it to either Calif. or NJ and pray for the best. ;)

Yes, Yes Yes, Yes Yes. I didn't know it was available. Just got hit with a $2000 repair bill 1 3/4 years in. I'm hoping the extended warranty on my AMEX card will cover it. $150 is nothing . Same thing happened to me 1 3/4 years into my HVX - that was a $1500 bill. Don't question it for a second just buy it. In both cases I had unexpected board failures that were no fault of mine.

I was told by my insurance co (State Farm) that they cover my equipment if lost, stolen, fire, etc, but of course NOT if out of warranty and needs repair - so I'm not sure what others' insurance is like but mine won't do it, guess I'll get the SONY extended warranty, though what a shame SONY and other co's can't give a 3 year warranty on parts seeing how much $ these cameras cost. I think AbelCine and B&H have these warranties available as well as Media Solutions.

The price and length of the warranty are an indication of the anticipated failure record. A disk drive with a five year warranty is expected to run nearly that. Otherwise, returns would make the product unprofitable. My experience with consumer electronics, including camcorders in the Sony VX2000/Z1/EX1 range, is that the sum of the amount spent on all extended warranties is more than the total amount spent on repairs. The memories of the 1-3 devices that failed early burns bright. Anecdotal evidence has a tendency to override average behavior. If we thought that way about cars, no one would drive.

I would say that selling a device with a few months left on an internal warranty does increase its purchase price. I received the highest bid in a year on my Sony FX1 with a few months left on the Sony extended warranty. Nikon lenses sold with the box and paperwork for valid extended warranties sell for top dollar on eBay. Nikon states that their extended five year warranty is not transferrable to another owner, but there are reports that Nikon continues to service the lenses regardless of the shipper.

I totally agree. The tolerance for risk is the driver. To pay $500 up front that you'll never get back, to insulate you from an unlikely $2,000 repair consequence. The problem I have with the Sony XDCAM, is that the anecdotal evidence is strong. We know and trust these people that are having problems.

My personal experience is bad. 2 expensive repairs each within 2 years. My suspicion is that modern cameras are more complicated and that more can go wrong . The Ex-1 seems especially prone to all sorts of issues. Maybe I just have bad Karma.

Well Leonard, I guess my karma sucks too. ;)

FYI, Mine just was delivered to LA service center today looks like the same issue Mark OConnell had which was dust on the sensors, the entire prism block had to be replaced at 2500.00 I am very glad I have the extended Sony warranty...btw camera is supose to be sealed and I really have not shot in very dusty conditions...looks like during manufacturing something was in there awaiting it's day to cause havok.... 159.00 bucks is nothing if it pays for itself at some point..for some it has paid 3x over.

Frankly, my suspicion is that the EX series of cameras are simply more prone to problems than other cameras.
Maybe its because its the first of a new and more radical design . Just too many stories here about people getting hit for $2000 repair bills when they've doen noting to create the problem.

Sorry to read that. With the four camcorders (Sony VX2000, Z1, FX1 and EX1) and three DSLRs (Nikon D70, D2H, D3) I've owned and used, I have never experienced a problem that needed to be fixed out of warranty. Though, the D2H had a problem that Nikon fixed out of warranty for free as the problem plagued the entire production run. My Sony EX1 and Z1 needed some work shortly after purchase, and they were covered by the standard warranties. The sum of money spent on extended warranties was about $2000.

I'm a bit late for this thread, but...

B&H offers an aftermarket 3yr extended warranty near the top of the EX1r page for about $500.

If you scroll to the very bottom of the EX1r page they offer the Sony 3yr extended warranty for $150. BUY THAT.

My experience with my first EX1 said BUY THE WARRANTY NOW.

I have never bought extended warranties in the past, but now I would always buy them for EX1s and Macs.

My EX1 failed in the first 20 minutes of use and went to Sony 3 times, for a total down time of about 5 weeks. Apple has already replaced the graphics card and then the entire computer for the Mac Pro 8core I bought in August.

Both have too many problems and are too expensive to repair.

Happy to discover today that Am Express honored the 1 year extended warranty that happens when you use their card to buy something. At $2047 that was a welcome surprise.

That's called a lemon. Was all that down time in the first year? What happened the second year?

If that had been MY EX1, it would have gone back to the dealer immediately for an exchange.

That was all in the first six weeks. It didn't get a second year here, but I didn't have any more problems in the next few months before I sold it. Haven't heard of any problems from the new owner.

It came from B&H. They didn't offer any help, other than "send it to Sony for warranty repair". It was already at Sony repair for a couple of weeks before I called them though.

At that point, I would have been on the phone to the local Sony Pro rep in your area. It's his/her job to take care of problems like this or at the very least to expedite your repair and try to find a loaner for you. Of course, "hope springs eternal". ;)